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Staff Favorites - David Driscoll

David Driscoll likes to drink alcohol when he is not working at K&L. His main interests include wine, beer, and distilled spirits. Before he worked here he went to college at a decent school, got a masters degree from an OK school, worked as a waiter and taught elementary school in Chinatown. He decided to get into the wine business after reading a few books about wine and realizing that one cannot seriously learn about wine solely through reading. His career goals include: trying to convince K&L customers that he does know something despite his youthful appearance, and learning everything about everything about every single wine ever made.

Reviews

When I first tasted the Cut Spike whiskey, I thought it was simply the best American single malt out there; a true revelation for the domestic category. However, as I'm now tasting the newest batch from the Nebraskan producer, I'm realizing that the whiskey is starting to morph into something very particular and unique to the brand. That classic creaminess is still very pervasive, but for the second time in a row there's a pronounced note of pine that soon mutates into ginger and Asian spices before quickly turning back into rich vanilla and oak on the finish; smoothly seeping its way into my taste buds as that last little sip goes down. What we're starting to witness here is the development of a house style--a flavor that defines this distillery. It's very exciting, and it's becoming infectious.

Lush and soft, like it's already been matured for a few years, with dark-fruited goodness and textures of earth and spice on the mid-palate. If you're going out for steak and you need a well-priced bottle that drinks perfectly right off the bat (no decanting) then this is the guy for you.

The TWR Sauvignon Blanc has been the best SB we've carried for the last year. Now the 2014 Chardonnay has arrived, and I think it might be the best Chard we now carry. Crisp, with minerality and a bit of richness from oak, it drinks like a fine white Burgundy. Absolutely stunning.

Made from aromatic varietals (predominately Gewurztraminer) this little blend refreshing white will wash away all your troubles. Sauvignon Blanc and Gris round out the backend. We've been waiting for years to build up TWR enough before bringing this in. A staff favorite.

Unbelievably racy with tons of flinty, petrol notes. You would think this is classic German-style trocken, but it's not. It's a crazy deal from Western Australia, a region that lately has been making more good white wine than just about anywhere on the planet. Bone dry. So dry your teeth will hurt.

This is a juicy, lovely little food wine that brings just enough ripe fruit flavor to help balance out the mineral undercurrents. Nowhere near as overpowering as a Cote du Rhone or jammy Zinfandel, think of this Mencia as a more restrained bistro wine, or California red before the new wave of big points/big power took over. A true throwback wine at a hot price.

My new favorite Spanish wine for under $20. This is just a stunning wine with layers of complexity. Dark black fruits morph into savory and earthy notes, before mutating into bits of dried spice and leather. It's a whole lotta red wine for $14.99 and it should pair well with just about anything. Made by wine geeks for wine geeks.

This wine is going to be a serious competitor for our already beloved Montfaucon. This is Rhone wine with seamless flavors of dark berries and currant, and a juicy character that just hits the spot. Our French regional buyer Keith Mabry was in search of a new K&L exclusive bistro-style wine and he found it. For $10 this is your new party red. Find me someone who doesn't like this wine.

A great deal for Tavel rosé with plenty of soft pink fruit, but plenty of crisp acidity to balance it all out. A bit rounder than your standard Provence fare, but just as clean and refreshing. I could drink this all day (and probably will at some point).

Our French regional buyer Keith Mabry went to Corbieres in search of a simple, down-home, organic, hands-off table wine and he came back with this stunning little number. Not nearly as fruit-forward and juicy as most Carignan-based wines, the Anhel is a drier, more restrained expression of black currant and subtle earth. It's a great food wine to pair with roasted meat dishes and for the money it's a total steal.

A slightly rounder, richer rosé that still brings crisp acidity and freshness. Drink it with grilled meats of any kind and revel in its layered red fruits with soft Cabernet juiciness on the finish. I'm in for a case.

I'm one of those guys who would rather drink the richer, more robust flavor of sherry on the palate rather than an age statement or a number. There's no 12 or 18 on the label of the Macallan Rare Cask because the distillery uses a variety of ages, from top quality sherry butts, to create the Rare Cask. If you can get past the uncertainty, you'll be rewarded with fudge, decadent cocoa, and spice cake. If you like Macallan, there's no way you'll be disappointed.

This is one of the more approachable and drinkable bottles of Barbaresco I've ever tasted. It has all the classic Nebbiolo flavor but with a softer, juicier center and delicate tannic structure. It's THE bottle for date night at your local Italian place because you can open it without decanting and still enjoy the flavor. That's a huge reason why I DON'T take more Nebbiolo wines out to dinner, but with the Gallina it's not an issue. Fantastic stuff that really delivers for the price.

This is dynamite Nebbiolo, of the highest possible quality. It has such an perfectly balanced core of dark fruit, earth, minerality, and spice that you'll be back for second sips faster than you originally planned. That will make the bottle go that much quicker, so you might as well get two. It's worth it.

Sometimes hyperbole isn't enough to get your point across. "This is the BEST, ever, ever, ever, ever!" wouldn't really even do this wine justice. The quality of Eben Sadie's wines speaks for itself, but usually you'll have to pony up about $40-$60 a bottle to test out that quality for yourself. Somehow, someway, our wine buyer Ryan Woodhouse worked out a deal to bring in Sadie's Sequillo wines direct: for $19 freakin' 99!!! That's just unreal. The Sequillo white is like elegance in a bottle. It's soft and seamless, yet never lacking in acidity or minerality. I took a bottle of his T'Voetpad white (the single vineyard version of this wine) to my anniversary dinner with my wife this year. She fawned over that bottle like a school girl at a New Kids on the Block concert in 1989. Get a bottle of this wine. Get two cases. Get in while it's here. ASAP. You won't be sorry.

Sometimes hyperbole isn't enough to get your point across. "This is the BEST, ever, ever, ever, ever!" wouldn't really even do this wine justice. The quality of Eben Sadie's wines speaks for itself, but usually you'll have to pony up about $40-$60 a bottle to test out that quality for yourself. Somehow, someway, our wine buyer Ryan Woodhouse worked out a deal to bring in Sadie's Sequillo wines direct: for $19 freakin' 99!!! That's just unreal. The Sequillo red blend is soft, juicy, incredibly balanced, and elegant in its profile. It's a testament to quality winemaking and dedicated vineyard practices that manifests itself clearly in the bottle. You won't wonder one bit why Even Sadie is a superstar after tasting this bottle. You'll be wondering why you didn't buy another ten cases for your cellar.

One of my favorites from the GR portfolio, the Coast Road utilizes heavy doses of pinot noir brandies to create a supple and silky smooth spirit of supreme quality. A sure fire winner if you're looking to branch out from Cognac and into something new and exciting.

This is one of the best sakes we carry at K&L - period. I would bring this bottle to a dinner party and just drink it like a bottle of white wine or rose. We need to get out of the habit where we only drink sake when we eat Japanese food. This is the bottle that should prove to serious wine drinkers that sake can easily hang with a great Sancerre or an Alsatian pinot gris. Crisp, vibrant fruit on the entry with hints of pear on the finish. Made with a unique yeast derived from flowers, the sake is one of the most aromatic and delicious we carry, as well as one of the most special.

Good God, what a deal! This is real Santa Cruz Mountain fruit balanced with a judicious amount of oak and plenty of acidity. This should be at least $35 considering the price of the grapes and the quality of that fruit, but for some reason it's only $21.99. I don't get it, but I'm not complaining.

Not your normal dark, extracted, overly-inky California Syrah. This wine from E St J is full of soft red fruits, with a tinge of tartness and a much lither, lower-in-alcohol profile that makes it much more food-friendly and easy to drink. I wish more CA producers would go back to making wine this way. I'd drink a lot more of them if that was the case!

It's wines like this that make me excited to be from California and fill me with pride for our local offerings. The Kismet is deliciously juicy, but soft textured and restrained, with real acidity and structure underneath that initial blast of fruit. It's a pretty wine; a pure and straightforward expression of California ripeness, but made in a style that never pushes that ripeness too far. It's as much an example of good winemaking as it the quality of our grapes. Bravo!

This wine is classic in its dark-fruited, restrained character. There's no jammy sweetness or extravagant oak here. Just good old Cabernet from California, the old fashioned style, and a great price tag to go along with it.

WOW. The best Kalinda wine to date. Your quality-to-price ratio is off the charts here. New Zealand Pinot Noir flavor can often clock in somewhere between California and Burgundy and our new Kalinda expression does just that. You get the ripe drinkability of California fruit, but with the complex, foresty, and spice-driven character of great Burgundy. Crunchy red fruits, baking spices, hints of earth and forest floor. Sign me up. This is a hot deal.

Glenlivet is removing the 12 year old from many major markets in favor of the new "Founder's Reserve", which has no age statement and a higher price. Get your Glenlivet 12 before it goes the way of the Dodo.

The great American single malt has finally arrived and it's being made in Seattle, Washington. Don't believe me? Get a bottle and see for yourselves. This is made on real Forsyth pot stills just like in Scotland, aged in bourbon and sherry casks, and brimming with Macallan-like flavor. It's still a bit young, but man is it going to get better.

I love that there are a few distilleries interested in playing around with different strains of barley. What they've shown us without a doubt so far is that it absolutely DOES make a difference (whether you care about it, or not is a different question). The Bruichladdich Bere Barley was the first example of a unique and wildly different style of malt, and the Tusail now is the next great presentation. It's spicy, gingery, mealy, and full of inherent flavor that obviously doesn't come from the wood. It's textural and exotic, malty and rich. It's a home run from the best whisky development team in Scotland.

Made from older stocks of DDL rums before the big transition into one consolidated Guyanese distillery, this is the ultimate aged rum. Rich oak, pure cane flavor, a bit of funky molasses, and a spicy, robust finish. I can't believe it's still $99.99

In lieu of Havana Club 3 year, the El Dorado 3 year is just as good and made the same way: three years in wood, then filtered to be a white rum. It's round and easy-drinking with pure rum flavor. Why use anything else for Daiquiris?

A rare combination of power and suave in the mezcal category. Big spice, lots of spice, but a mouthfeel that is creamy and smooth in texture. A wonderful and very limited batch of agave spirit from the people at Danzantes and Germain-Robin.

One of the truly great luxury products out there--and there aren't that many of them. Casa Dragones is worth the extra money if you want pristine beauty and are willing to pay for it. Clean, fresh, elegant, and smooth on the finish. A true masterpiece.

This is the original 10 and 2 whisky--10 years in bourbon casks, with 2 years finishing in sweet sherry wood. Glendronach, Balvenie, and Aberlour all do it down, but Glenmorangie did it first and they're still the best at it. Lovely spice cake and dark toffee notes round out the finish.

This is still my go-to VSOP Cognac. In fact, it might be the best Cognac we carry for the money. Textural, oily, and round on the palate with a viscous mouthfeel and rich vanilla flavors. All estate-grown fruit, all estate-distilled brandy, and nothing added on the back end. No caramel, no boise, all natural. What's not to love here?

Every batch of Faultline Bourbon that John Little blends for us here at K&L gets better and better each time. The more we do this, the better we get at doing it. We're putting out some of the softest, richest, most delicious bourbon on the market and it's only for K&L customers at a fantastic price. If you haven't bought a bottle yet, you're really missing out.

Forty Creek boss John Hall planted an entire forest just to make sure he had enough wood for the special Canadian oak barrels he planned on aging his whisky in. Just that fact alone makes me want to get a bottle.

Of all the LDI-distilled bargain ryes on the market, the Bulleit has reigned supreme due to its low price and high quality of flavor. It's hard to justify buying more Templeton when Bulleit is the same stuff for almost 10 dollars less.

The tete de cuvee from Jameson: an elegant, refined, and classic version of Irish whiskey from Midleton Distillery. If you like Redbreast, Green Spot, or just plain old Jameson Irish Whiskey, this is the king of them all.

I LOVE this whisky. This is my new Glenmorangie 18. A classic sweet barley and vanilla flavor, but with extra viscosity and more weight on the palate. It's thick and chewy. You can almost bite into it. The Glasgow distillery is becoming relevant once again. Watch out other distilleries!